John m



UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. FORBES AND FRANK H. BEER, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

SH'OE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 620,843, dated March '7, 1899.

Application filed June 7, 1897. Serial No. 639,669. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that we, JOHN M. FORBES and FRANK H. BEER, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Shoe-Stretcher, of which the following is a clear and full description.

Our invention relates to stretchers, and particularly to that class which are used in stretching shoes.

It provides and consists of details hereinafter set forth and which are also clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, in which latter similar letters refer to similar parts.

Figure 1 shows a side view of our invention. Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the operating rod or shaft which we employ, together with the details of construction in connection therewith. Figs. 4: to 7, inclusive, set forth other details of our invention.

In the construction of our invention we employ a body portion A, which is preferably formed as shown in the drawings, having a rounded rear portion adapted to correspond with the inner surface of the counter of a shoe. and forward part thereof a downwardlycurved surface, which form continues, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2,'to the upper surface of an adjustable toe-piece B, which will hereinafter be referred to. In-the underside of the said body portion A and extending longitudinally throughout the same is an angular recess F, in which is placed a correspondinglyformed casing G, closed at top and open at bottom and having integrally formed thereon and at the sides thereof ears 9, which are preferably countersunk in the lower surface of the said body portion adjacent to each side of the said angular recess. Fis abase-plate corresponding in general form-to the base of said This body portion A has on the upper the forward end of the said base-plate are means for firmly securing them in their respective and adjacent positions. Formed also in the said body portion A, slightly to one side of the central vertical plane thereof and passing from the upper surface down-' wardly to the said casing, is a circular passage which, as may be clearly seen, lies approximately in the same vertical plane as the said angular passage and extends upwardly at right angles thereto. Yet it is to be understood that We donot limit ourselves to the general direction of this passage, it merely being important that such a passage, preferably of a circular shape, is formed in the said body portion and registering with corresponding openings formed in the said'casing G and base-plate F. Passing through the said circular passage and registering openings is an operating-shaft C, which has secured near the lower end thereof a pinion 0, while formed on .the lower end of the said shaft is an annular projection adapted to snugly enter the small openin g f in the plate F, the wall of said opening forming a bearing for the lower end of the said shaft. Mounted on the said shaft'C and adjacent tothe upper surface of the said body portion A is a ratchet-wheel having formed integrally therewith and secured firmly thereto an annular shoulder D, which may be secured in any desired manner rigidly to the said shaft 0. Secured to the upper surface of the said body portion A is a pawl E, which is held in position by a small screw 8, as may be clearly seen from the drawings, and which is set forth in detail in Fig. 4 of the same. Passing through the said casing G is a rack H, the teeth of which are engaged by the pinion 0, while formed on the rear end of the said rack, outside of the said body portion, is a heel-plate h, having its outer surface correspond in form to the rear of the said body portion and so placed that when the said rack is moved forward the said heel-plate is drawn in close proximity to the said body portion, so that the said outer surface of the said plate is flush with the said rear-portion. The said base-plate F has also a small cut-away portion f on its rear end, as may be clearly seen in Fig. 5, adapted to receive the lower edge of the said heel-plate. Formed on or secured to pintles f, adapted to enter corresponding openings formed in the said toe-piece B, and thus hold the same firmly in position adjacent to the said body portion. This toe-piece B has also formed therein an angular chamber J, adapted to receive the forward portion of the said rack, which also serves in aiding the said pintles to retain the toe-piece in position. It is to be understood, however, that this toe-piece is easily removable and others of various sizes or forms be substituted at will. In addition the said toe piece has formed therein openings b, in which plugs known as corn-plugs in the trade may be inserted, so that if it be desired any particular point of the shoe-upper can be stretched. In addition to this we may also secure to the upper surface of the said toe-piece an extra plate adapted to bear against and stretchthe scam in the adjacent portion of the shoe. However, we may obviate this course by substituting a different-shaped toe-piece at will. We may extend the said shaft upwardly a predetermined distance and fasten to the upper end of the said shafta handle, or we may form in the upper portion of the said collar D an angular recess, in which a key may be inserted for operating the said shaft at will.

The operation of our invention Will be clear] y understood from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings when taken in connection with the following statement.

The several parts of our invention having been adjusted in the order and manner as described, the stretcher is placed within the shoe, whence upon revolving the said shaft the pinion secured to the lower end of the same serves to drive rearwardly the said rack, bringing into close contact the said heel-plate and counter in the shoe, against which it rests, while by continuing to revolve the said shaft and t-herebyoperating the said rack the said toe-piece and body portion are driven firmly, strongly, and with even pressure into the toe of the shoe, stretching it as desired. It is to be seen that a great amount of pressure may be thereby directed against any part of the toe portion which might prove uncomfortable.

I-Iaving now described our invention, what we claim as new, and wish to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stretcher, a body portion with a recess in its base, a casin g in said recess secured to said body portion, a rack guided in said casing and provided with a heel-plate on its rear end, and a rotatable shaft mounted in said body and a pinion secured on said shaft and engaging said rack, substantially as described.

2. In a stretcher, a body portion with a recess in its base, a casin g in said recess and secured to said body, a base-plate secured to said body, a rotatable shaft mounted in said casing and base-plate, a rack guided in said casing and having on its rear end a heel-plate, a pinion on said shaft engaging said rack and a detent engaging a ratchet on said shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a stretcher, the combination of a body portion provided with a longitudinally-extending recess therein and also with a circular passage in connection therewith, a movable rack in said recess, a shaft passing through said circular passage and engaging at its lower end the said rack, a toe-piece in connection with said body portion, a heelplate mounted on the rear end of said rack and means for operating said shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a shoe-stretcher the combination of a body portion provided with an angular recess therein and also with a circular passage in communication with the same, a baseplate secured to said body portion, a toe-piece rcmovably engaging said base-plate, a heelplate adjacent to said body portion,and means within said recess and passage for longitudinally adjusting said heel-plate, substantially as described.

5. In a shoe-stretcher the combination of a body portion provided with a longitudinallyextending recess therein and also with a circular passage in communication with said recess, a casing within said recess, a base-plate secured to said body portion, a toe-piece adjustably engaging said base-plate,a heel-plate adjacent to said body portion, a rack passing through said casing and in connection with said heel-plate and means for operating said rack, substantially as described.

6. In a shoe-stretcher, the combination of a body portion provided with a recess therein and also with a circular passage in communication with the same, a casing within said recess, a base-plate engaging said body portion adjacent to said casing,a toe-piece removably mounted on said base-plate and adjacent to said body portion, a rack passing through said casin g, a heel-plate engaging the rear end of the same, a shaft mounted in said circular passage, a pinion on the lower end of said shaft and engaging said rack, and means for securing the said shaft at any desired point, substantially as described.

7. In a stretcher the combination of a body portion provided with a longitudinally-extending recess in the lower part thereof,'and also with a circular passage in communication with the same, a casing within said recess, a base-plate in connection with said body portion adjacent to said casing, a toe-piece removably mounted upon said base-plate,a rack passing through said casing, a heel-plate on the rear end of the same, a shaft mounted in said passage, a pinion on the lower end of the same engaging said rack, a ratchet on the upper portion of said shaft and a pawl secured to said body portion and engaging said ratchet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 15th day of April, 1897.

JOHN M. FORBES. FRANK I-I. BEER. Witnesses:

MARGARET ARMSTRONG, THOS. A. Arron. 

